Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-03
JUDGE LYNCH

bar for many years, and knew personally and
officially nearly all the judges OF the state and
of the federal courts, had never made tue
acquaintance Of that perambulating tribunal
presided over by Justice Lynch until went
to reside for a few months in neighoorlng
state. where runor has it that Judge Lynch |
made his debut.
The meeting came about this way. There |
had been a long and expensive judicial season |
at Y; and Mallory Jock, the criminal law |
yer. had saved another victim from the |
sword of Justice The name of the sinner |
who was snatched from the hands of the |
hangman WIS Black Bill. Bill was exceed |
ingly handy with his pistol and on this coca
sion had shot and killed the conductor OF
street car because he persisted in trying to
collect the car fare. As both lawyer and eli
ent were notorious, the trial brought the
whole population TO the court house to wit
ness the Illegal contest. and, as usual the bar
came out victorious Bill had mistaken the
conductors ticket punch for pistol, the Off
ciaI for q robfer, and had shot the latter in
selfdefense; besides forcing the judge to
charge that if the defendant really mistook
the bell punch for pistol, pointed in a men
a,ing and dangerous manner, they were
bound, in fact, to treat it as though it was
yeritable revolver, with Sis-caliber shot in it,
and no,f an innocent recording bell punch,
Of course Bill was acquitted, and he walked
down Main street, the admired center of all
gazers This was the farce. The tragedy
came about in this way
As may be anticipated; Bill was very much
elated over his escape, especially as it hap
pene,i to be his third trial for murder and he
was rather stiVerstitious about the figure
three. He celebrated it i'll a roaring spree,
which lasted a week and kept that part of the
town in an uproar There was drinking sing
ing and fighting in harmonious and constant
succession as though Bin was going to intro
duee the famous Bacchic revels and life WIS
to be an orgy OF drinking and iisticuif. 1t
was about the third day OF the feast when the
barkeeper, in a thoughtful moment, demanded
payment Of the score, i'll default Of which he
proposed 10 tumble the gang into the
street
Bill, whose life had just been saved at an
expeuse 10 the state of a Thousand dollars,
was naturally indignant, and in the absence
of his pistol he knocked the thoughtful bar
keeper down with a beer glass. Then the
fight commenced between the proprietor and
his men and Bill and the "gang," and thu
battle ragged and surged tom the bar room
to the kitchen, and from the kitchen to thu
street, each new conner lending hand or {
stone Finally the town marshal came rush
ing into the crowd, and knocked the Draw
Iers with his club right and left and unfor
tunately Bill among the rest The lattel
sneaked quietly across the street. CANT
back with a shotgun. poured the contents o.
a. 81 L. Rs-hEf IN
marshal and killed him on the spot Thi
was the climax The brawl ceased as sudden
" AZ it had arisen-the fighters skunk bacl
from Bill in disgust, and even he turned HI
bloodshot eyes anEiously down at the nov
quiet marshal Then be placed the gun in
corner, and some one whispered "Git" an
he walked out into the street and after mo
ment's pause skunk rapidly away under til
shadows of the houses and the trees,
He had not walked dozen squares befor
he perceived that there was something TIL
matter with either the people or the tow
Men ran ahead of him, Others followed an
dorged his footsteps. and doors were bange
as Inc passed Hank! the fire bell was ring
ing, and the whistle Of the ferryhOat awoI
the echoes on the river The stream Of light
in the distance was not made up of fire fife
but of men and boys carrying lanterns, an
armed with clubs and shOtguns. He TIRE
several doors on the way, well known place
of refuge hut they were closed, and no gin
of light from the windows.
Then came the tramp, tramp Gf marchiT
men, and in dartIng around the corner
found himself instantly surrounded with
mob, who ordered him brutaily 70 stand al
hold up his hands Bill smiled IS be rsco
nized the voice, and iagily complied with Il
order; then he scanned the crowd eagerl
but they were masked and the only plai
unmistakable thing was the revolver, viii,
CLEANED at him from all directions T
leader, in his red shirt, slouched hat, pant
looms stuffed in his boots, and under his ar
a long, black barreled rife, stood eying bi
in silence.
Hello, Long Jim said Bill, animal
with a sudden CLEAN of hope, You'll give
fellow chance for his life, won't tou, jim
what" replied the leader, contemplation
". Il don't know yer This amt no rabl
hunting party-this is Judge Lynch The
has been killing enough in this town-ther'
be another, and then the thing will st,
Fold your arIns-riGht about face, march"
Yes, this was Judge Lynch-court, jury a
executioner, all in one.
When the itinerant court passed my doc
was smoking an evening cigar. and havi
heard the alarm bell was searching the ho
zon for the sign Of fire. which nowhere cot
he seen. The moon was out. and but for
flving procession of clouds that continue
scudded in front, the town Of \ was fairly
up with the white, silent light. / was s
wondering If the clouds meant rain or sno
when the odd and fantastic Judicial proc
sion marched silently by. No funeral pal
was graver, made less noise or marched W
more decorum There was only one exc
ton 70 the general good behavior and Il
was the impression of the bystanders. Eve
locker on was Immediately pressed into
crowd Not one was allowed to look and
part, but he was forced to assist in the &c
mony | was in the doorway when fellc
hideously draped and disguised, laid h
upon me, and pointing with his revolver
the mob told me TO fall in"
why. certainly" and ! marched with
rest.
As there was very little talking there 7
abundant opportunity for reflection, and
probably the only one who was doing 6
systematic thinking was the victim Bill as
turned his mead from flgHt 70 itIL, val
searching for some sign Of succor-
For myself no sooner guessed the oh.
or rather pHrpose-of the Judicial tt
than my curiosity OVERRIDE and silenced
legal scruples to the enterprise Beside
consoled myself with the thought that as
our great jurists and statesmen had tOunc
higher source Of authority than the PEG
and that everything came from and was
the benefit Of the people. surely an improm
tribunal Of the people like Judge Lynch
beyond impeachment. On we went, f
street to street and pike To pike, the or
constantly gaining III size and the hope {
rescue consequently diminishing. As
eager people outfianked Bill on either sid
could not help noticing the difference
tween the sullen and scornful glance of
mems eyes, to the pleasant, watery eyed
nevolent looks of his friends, the late j
no tears. no smiles over the pathos or hu
of counsel here; only anger, dark and vic
as the ocean at night.
Once or twice Bill would sidle up to
tall, gaunt leader, and whisper, as he TIRE
catch his eye, sobbing appeal for "char
-Give a fellow a chance for his life, "
vou9@ This twas the constant and the